Rear brake usage?

[Mikkel]

Nope, you've missed it. Using the rear first compresses the REAR suspension as well as the front thereby lowering the cog, where using just the front extends the rear and compresses the front, moving the cog up and forwards. It works, on my old beast I hammer the rear to the point of overheating it, as the rear is so high that it stoppies too much without it....

Could you please explain to me how you can compress the front fork without raising the centre of mass (in relation to the centre of the front wheel of course)?

You just did - indeed that isn't possible without the rear suspension being compressed. Bearing that in mind I think you didn't read what you quoted.

Or, have I missed the point again?

[GaZBur]

OK I just had this seat of the pants experience after picking my bike up from the shop today in the rain. Got tyres changed from Knobs to Road tyres for Levels on Sat.
Tried stopping with just the front brakes - no drama.
Tried stopping with just the back brakes - no drame but not quite as positive.
A car pulled out on me - I hit both brakes simultaneously - no drama. Either of the first two options would probably have seen me on thier roof!
PS Riding with two tyres draped over your sholder is not the same as having air bags on a bike. In fact they ride up onto your neck under extreme braking.

[White trash]

I only use the rear for launching the bike off the start line.

Although I hope to bag the use of a friends datalogger on a test day and begin experimenting with a couple of different things so I will know conclusively what suits me best.

[All]

PS Riding with two tyres draped over your sholder is not the same as having air bags on a bike. In fact they ride up onto your neck under extreme braking.

Haha, I'll take that under advisement!

[avrflr]

I guess the manufacturers know a trick or two as well. Take a look at any sport bike and you will notice huge twin discs with multiple piston calipers on the front wheel and a token single disc (much smalller diameter) with only one or two pistons in the caliper on the rear. Its a pretty common theme across the spectrum of makers and sort of indicates where they think the braking should come from.. But hey, who are they and what would they know? They only build em eh...

Racers that used the rear brake while winning world championships:

Wayne Rainey
Carl Fogarty
Mick Doohan
Valentino Rossi

But what would they know?

[Badjelly]

Racers that used the rear brake while winning world championships:

Wayne Rainey
Carl Fogarty
Mick Doohan
Valentino Rossi

But what would they know?

OK, but it might be interesting to have a list of riders that didn't use the rear brake while winning world championships.

[All]

OK, but it might be interesting to have a list of riders that didn't use the rear brake while winning world championships.

That would be really interesting. I'd be quite surprised if there were any.

[Subike]

do we use rear brakes?
do we use front brakes?
each of us rides to our own style
and a vast majority of us survive, and survive having heaps of fun doing it too
I prefer to use all THREE braking systems
or have you all forgotten the amount of braking power the engine has.
Good controlled braking can begine with decelleration via the engine
and if you know your ride well,
planning your corners ahead,
Not racing on a track
Not going exsessively fast
Then your engine brake can do all that is needed..leaving your rubberbands to do their best job well....keeping you right side up and smooth.
Nothing worse that fanging into a corner, braking like a school boy puling his pud, just to fine FUCK wrong gear for the exit.
No matter how good your brakes are, front or rear, use all three and ride smooth on the road.
But then you may call me a nana for going slower than the bike can perform.
But hey 30 years riding, and no cage has stopped me yet!
Some have come close
but I ride to the conditions and my ability.
My ability?......still learning

[All]

do we use rear brakes?
do we use front brakes?
each of us rides to our own style
and a vast majority of us survive, and survive having heaps of fun doing it too
I prefer to use all THREE braking systems

For sure. But this thread is about the fastest way to stop, not personal preference as such.

[Mikkel]

For sure. But this thread is about the fastest way to stop, not personal preference as such.

No, it's about how to use the rear brake if you want to brake in the shortest possible distance.

Stopping the fastest way possible is to hit a solid object that is coupled strongly to terra firma. Any experiments to confirm this hypothesis are undertaken at your own peril!

[Motu]

I hammer the rear to the point of overheating it, ....

My rear disc turns blue and smokes after a bit of a fang down the road....but the front is just warm to the touch,and yet the front brake is my main stopper.Like Ixion I seldom use the brakes hard,I set up the corner before entering....brakes are used for fine tuning,and obviously I trail brake to the extreme.My way may not be the fastest way around a corner,but I'm only riding to impress myself,not others.

[All]

No, it's about how to use the rear brake if you want to brake in the shortest possible distance.

Well, as the title is Rear brake usage, I thought that using brakes was a given. Also, there's the fact that I started the thread (so presumably I know what it's about).

[dipshit]

Could you please explain to me how you can compress the front fork without raising the centre of mass (in relation to the centre of the front wheel of course)?

Next time you are out riding, try using both brakes when doing a hard stop at a set of traffic lights. As you have come to a complete stop, keep both brakes applied for a few seconds... then release the rear brake *first* while still holding the front brake on - and you should feel the rear of the bike rising up.

Using rear brake as well has pulled your bike down.

When you use front brake only, you are lifting the rest of the bike up.

One way creates a more stable bike under brakes... while the other way creates a more twitchy and nervous bike under brakes.

[homer]

My rear disc turns blue and smokes after a bit of a fang down the road....but the front is just warm to the touch,and yet the front brake is my main stopper.Like Ixion I seldom use the brakes hard,I set up the corner before entering....brakes are used for fine tuning,and obviously I trail brake to the extreme.My way may not be the fastest way around a corner,but I'm only riding to impress myself,not others.

You should only be trailing the rear to help turn thru the corner
it shouldnt be hot at all.
You should only do this if you start to run a little wide and then just a touch of rear is often enought to slow and help turn the bike a little more.
Have you riden trail bikes?
thats where you learn this

[Motu]

Have you riden trail bikes?

You'd never get me to ride one of those ugly chook chasers!